I do not recommend using Quicken for running your business. Not even the Home and Business version. I realize we’re all trying to save some money, but scrimping on accounting software should not be the way to do that. Quicken was developed to keep track of home expenses such as the mortgage, groceries and even personal stock trades. I find that trying to run a business with software that was not designed for the task, is a good way to lose valuable information.
Yes, you can do invoices and track your checking account on the Home and Office version of Quicken, but you can’t do in-depth analytical reports that allow you to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of your business. The same applies to using a spreadsheet program although these are better than nothing at all. Any of these programs will allow you keep track of some of your information, but using it for projections or creating a budget is very difficult and will require several hours of time just to get the kind of reports you’ll need to run your business efficiently.
If you truly want your business to succeed, you’ll need the right tools. A good woodworker, a mechanic, or even a musician needs quality tools to get their desired results. So does your business. I recommend using QuickBooks. This program costs more than Quicken, but it is one of those “right tools”. There are several versions of the program including on-line and desktop versions. Feel free to contact me if you need to know which version to use. Don’t handicap your business by not using the correct tools.